Speaker of the Seimas in Rome: ‘Decisions require consensus and support’

Press release, 16 May 2023 

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, began her official working visit to Rome, Italy, on Monday. Right upon arrival, she gave an interview to one of Italy’s leading and oldest daily newspapers Corriere della Serra. She later met with representatives of Italian Lithuanian communities at the Lithuanian Embassy.

According to the Speaker, the visit is significant on several accounts. In these challenging times, everyone’s strength and security is guaranteed by active and strong state-to-state relations. Italy is an important ally of the European Union and NATO. On the other hand, it is now an opportune and potential moment to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Italy, particularly in addressing migration challenges and developing investment projects and research.

‘The preparation for the NATO Summit in Vilnius to be held this July, which we would like to see take critical decisions on the security of the region and the development of the Alliance, provides us with yet another particularly important context for cooperation. However, decisions require consensus and support. I therefore believe that this visit and the High Level Meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the NATO Member Countries in June will contribute to achieving this,’ said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

On Monday, the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Rome organised a meeting between the Speaker of the Seimas and Lithuanians residing in Italy. 

‘Members of the community are particularly interested in multiple citizenship and the referendum on the preservation of citizenship. They are committed to promoting Lithuanian identity, Lithuanian education and providing support in this regard. It is thanks to these people that important anniversaries for Lithuania and our traditional festivals are celebrated in Italy, and bilateral cultural and academic relations are maintained. When the war broke out in Ukraine, Italian Lithuanians were actively involved in charity activities, thus helping Ukrainians and the Lithuanian community in Ukraine,’ said V. Čmilytė-Nielsen.

On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Seimas is scheduled to meet with Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, and Maurizio Gasparri, Vice President of the Italian Senate, as well as to address a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected] www.lrs.lt